Submitted by Marion Barnes
Senior County Extension Agent with Clemson University
As spring approaches, it’s time to get out those hummingbird feeders and get ready for the arrival of those tiny visitors who bring so much color to our yards. The spring migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird is a much-anticipated event for many homeowners in South Carolina. Hummingbirds, which get their name from the sound made by their wings in flight usually arrive in our area around mid-March.
More than 300 species of hummingbirds live in North and South America. Sixteen hummingbird species are commonly found in the United States, but the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species found east of the Mississippi River. It can be found in the spring, summer and fall throughout areas of our state.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is only about 3 to 4 inched in length and weighs less than 0.2 ounces. After spending the spring and summer in the eastern United States they begin their fall migration and fly six hundred miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico to Central America and Mexico. During the migration, their heart beat exceeds 1200 beats per minute and their wings may flap 15 to 80 times per second.
It’s been estimated that hummingbirds need the nectar from between 1000 to 2000 flowers each day. Unfortunately, many of the native plants that hummingbirds depend on for nectar have disappeared due development and urban sprawl. Each spring, many homeowners and backyard gardeners put out hummingbird feeders to attract humming birds.
The following are a few guidelines from the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center for setting up your hummingbird feeders.
How to Set Up Your Own Hummingbird Feeder
You can make you own nectar by mixing 1-part sugar with 4-parts water. For Example: 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water. Mix with warm water until the sugar is completely dissolved. It’s not necessary to boil the water, but you want to make sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not add red dye or food coloring to the nectar solution. It is not necessary and may harm the hummingbirds.
Fill the feeders with the sugar water mixture and place outside. Since hummingbirds are territorial and like to guard the feeders; place them near a shrub or tree for the hummers to perch and watch for intruders.
Keep the nectar fresh. Change the sugar solution every two or three days and thoroughly clean feeders each time to prevent harmful mold growth.
When weather warms up and reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit, its important to change the nectar each day.
Do not use soapy water to clean feeders as a soap film taste bad to the hummers and could possibly be harmful. Use a vinegar solution (1-part vinegar and 2-parts water) instead and a bottle brush to clean the feeder. Then rinse them thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean the guards on the nectar ports.
Do not allow the sugar solution becomes cloudy or moldy since it could cause a fungal infection on their tongues if hummingbirds feed on it.
In addition to feeders, consider planting flowers in your yard to provide other nectar sources. Bee balm, petunia, trumpet creeper, woodbine honeysuckle and zinnia are a few excellent choices to add to you landscape. For more information on backyard wildlife contact your local Clemson Extension office.
